One Foot in the Door
With tried and true frameworks offering academic studies, cultural activities and counseling services, immigrants in the Selah, Kedma and Professional Retraining programs in the Sapir Absorption Center in Kfar Saba, are on their way to becoming the productive citizens that Israel needs.
A Solid Beginning
"After my parents were assured by the Selah coordinator in Minsk that I would be well taken care of, they allowed me to come to Israel on the program," explains Yevgenia Zhelzniak in fluent English. A confident, articulate 18 year-old, Yevgenia would like to study finance or law at the Tel Aviv University when she graduates from Selah in June. Selah, or Students Before Parents is a ten-month program which prepares high school graduates from the FSU for higher education and a smoother integration into Israel. In addition to Hebrew, English and computer studies, they learn Jewish heritage and the history of the Jewish people. By the end of the program, most graduates would define themselves as Israeli patriots. About a third enlist directly
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(l-r)David, Yevgenia and Vlad, Selah students and new Israeli citizens.
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into the army for their mandatory service. A parallel program exists for young immigrants from Latin American (Atid), and for French-speakers (Atid-Etzion).
Vlad Weizman from Tashkent, is a graduate of a technological college. "Apart from a Jewish identity, there was very little Jewish content at home, so I got involved with the activities of the Jewish Agency." He laughs, "when I eventually became a counselor, I talked so much about Israel to other people, I guess I convinced myself to come. Being familiar with the options, I knew that Selah was exactly what I needed to get started in Israel." Fluent in Russian, Uzbek, English, Hebrew and French, Vlad hopes to study business management at Tel Aviv University next year.
David Toker, a bright, rosy-cheeked 18 year old also hails from Uzbekistan. With no hesitation in his voice he announces, "I am going to study aerospace engineering at the Technion. But first, I want to serve in the Israeli air force as an airplane mechanic." David feels great in Israel. His grandparents settled in Ashdod and he is encouraging his sister, who is studying pharmacy in Tashkent, to make aliyah when she completes her studies.
Retrained on the Job
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Selah counselor, Oleg Gorokhovsky
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"If there is a problem, we know we can rely on our counselors or any of the staff here to help," confirm the Selahniks. One of their counselors is Oleg, a former Russian MIG pilot. 34 year-old Oleg made aliyah five years ago. Built like a jockey, he is compact, intelligent and straightforward. Oleg's father was a colonel in the Russian air force, and his entire Jewish identity was based on the fact that so many people hated him for being Jewish. "The Jewish identity I already had, so I decided to look for something positive to go along with it."
When Oleg decided he would make aliyah, he went about verifying options for employment. "Working as a pilot, which is what I was trained to do, entailed just too much time and money." After a few minor reincarnations, a Jewish Agency professional who had spotted Oleg's charm, responsibility and ability to communicate, asked him to be a counselor for a Selah program. "I ended up really liking this job, and the best part is seeing the students come back to visit - fluent in Hebrew, integrated and Israeli."
A Long Journey Home
Hailing from a bit further south, Tal Checol is a part-time counselor for a group of 38 students in the Kedma (Progress in Personal Preparation) program. The year-long program prepares Ethiopian students for higher education in Israel.
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Tal helps Froine with a form she has to fill out.
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Although all show great potential, their starting points differ drastically. Some students have completed high school while others are barely literate.
Now a law student, Tal has been in Israel since he was eleven. "One evening, when I was eight years old, my parents told me, 'Tomorrow, we leave for Jerusalem.' At the crack of dawn, we started out on foot, leaving our home, our cattle, and all our possessions. As planned, we met up with other Jewish families, and our group, which by then numbered almost one thousand, trekked for months up to the Sudan." From Sudan they hoped to reach Israel, but their hopes were dashed when they were cruelly expelled. Half-starved, they returned to Ethiopia on foot. Tal saw his aunt, cousin and many others die en route. Only after two and a half years of peregrinations, were they brought to Israel. But, the dream of reaching Jerusalem gave them courage, stamina and above all, hope.
A Warm, Welcoming Jewish Home
Amare means "good" in Amharic, explains 23-year-old Amare Zewdo who has been in Israel for seven months. He was a teacher of Amharic language and culture in Ethiopia. "I have wanted to come to Israel from as far back as I can recall," says Amare. “
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Amare hopes to study at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem next year.
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"I am so happy to be here, and lucky to be in a program like Kedma. I want to succeed and in the Absorption Center, I am supported every step of the way. Froine, who explains that her name means "precious," says that she has found what she was looking for as a Jew - "a warm, welcoming Jewish home."
Professionally Speaking
Currently, almost half the residents in the Kfar Saba Absorption Center are single Jewish professionals from around the world. As participants in the Aliyah 2000 Professional Retraining program, they study in a six-month Hebrew ulpan, during which, in addition to cultural activities, they receive counseling and guidance on licensing, retraining and employment options. Other programs, all based in Absorption Centers, are geared to absorbing doctors, nurses, engineers and other university graduates. These professionals leave the Absorption Center with some mastery of Hebrew, confidence, direction and a large social network to support them for the years to come.
There is Always Time for a Good Deed
"Our residents get a lot here," says Cultural Director, Arik Bernstein, "but very soon after they arrive they are initiated into giving. We begin with workshops emphasizing the importance of community involvement, then everyone signs up for some kind of volunteer work. Our residents can be seen out and about in Kfar Saba, collecting food for the poor, working with needy children or the elderly, and in a variety of other volunteer frameworks. We are part and parcel of this community."
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Lone, but not lonely
Dimitri and Ivan recently signed the lease on a modest rental apartment in Kfar Saba. The apartment has beds, a refrigerator and an oven, but the days are getting colder, and they could use a space heater and some warm blankets. Both young men graduated from Selah, the Immigration and Absorption Department's post-high school academic program, and both enlisted in the army after the program. Neither have family in Israel, and their army income covers very little. They are known as lone soldiers, and they often visit their first home,the Kfar Saba Absorption Center.
A Natural Homebase
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(l-r)Daniel and Vadim, soldiers who volunteer to help lone soldiers.
| Into the picture steps 21-year old Daniel, a veteran immigrant from Latvia. Daniel has spent the past year serving in the navy with a week-on/week-off schedule. "I had a lot of free time, and I wanted to do something useful." He approached Kfar Saba Absorption Center Cultural Director Arik Bernstein, and asked what he could do. Together, they agreed on work with the lone soldiers who live in the area, many of whom are graduates of the Selah program. The Kfar Saba Absorption Center would be a base for activities and administrative work.
Fluent in Russian and Hebrew, Daniel's confident, outgoing personality helped him navigate the stepping stones from one soldier to the next, until he amassed an impressive data base of names. "First of all, we find out what they need,and then we go about getting it - be it blankets, a place to do laundry, pots and pans or mattresses. People are happy to help," and Daniel has no qualms about approaching them. "A cinema donated free tickets to soldiers, a cafe donated coffee and cake. We host birthday parties for them here, all funded by local business and individuals."
Helping Each Other
Not only were Kfar Saba residents happy to help, but the soldiers themselves take responsibility. Vadim, who regularly volunteers aside Daniel, graduated from Selah two years ago. He enlisted in the army, and was subsequently wounded in a suicide bombing. Currently on leave, Vadim volunteers help other lone soldiers, as do about five other soldiers on active duty.
The icing on the cake is the newly opened Soldiers' Club on the second floor of the Absorption Center. A spacious room with cushioned alcoves and a lovely view, is now the comfortable social base for lone soldiers in the area. Made possible by the Maarj Fund, the Denver Jewish Federation and JAFI, the Club will be a venue for socializing, educational programs, and even a place to share a Shabbat meal. "The soldiers often get back from a grueling week so late on Friday afternoon, that they barely have time to change their clothes, let alone go shopping and prepare a meal." Absorption Center Director David Musafir confirms, "These soldiers, many of them graduates of our programs, are part of the Absorption Center's extended family." For the many Dmitris and Ivans, making their own way, this winter may be a little warmer. |